You ask, we answer. The Post is fielding questions from readers about New York’s biggest pro sports teams and getting our beat writers to answer them in a series of regularly published mailbags. In today’s installment: the Knicks.
I’m curious to get your take on the insistence that the Knicks need a great point guard. If we look at all the teams who have won championships recently, point guard play has come from other positions (Draymond Green with the Warriors, LeBron with the Cavs). Shouldn’t the Knicks focus on drafting the best player available? — Kevin V.
The Knicks need a playmaker/3-point shooter from that position. It’s their No. 1 need. All the top teams have terrific point guards. Look at the Celtics after they added Kemba Walker. Assist machine LeBron James plays point guard, no matter what the Lakers designate him.
It would help RJ Barrett and Kevin Knox immensely. I’d like to see Knox play with a creative setup man. Former Knicks coach David Fizdale put it perfectly: Elfrid Payton, Frank Ntilikina and Dennis Smith Jr. have positive attributes, but all are mediocre 3-point shooters. Payton had some gems, especially defensively with his quick hands, but his inability to shoot the 3 (20.3 percent) is devastatingly bad. He’s a backup on a decent team.
The 2020 draft isn’t a good one, but there’s a plethora of interesting point guards in the lottery. LaMelo Ball, Tyrese Haliburton or Cole Anthony would look good in orange and blue. I also love Kentucky’s Tyrese Maxey as a scorer, though some scouts wonder if he’s a capable-enough playmaker as an NBA point guard.
Considering the Knicks are not a good shooting team and the league has become a shooting-point-guard type of league, why does their best shooter and probably their best ball handler (Allonzo Trier) not play? Did prior management call the shots of him being ignored? — Todd
Trier falling off the map completely in November became one of the great surprises of the season. I reported after last season that Trier’s teammates didn’t enjoy playing with him because of his selfishness. Fast-forward to training camp in September: Fizdale said Trier’s goal in his second season was shedding his “IsoZo’’ nickname. And Fizdale shocked everyone by starting a Barrett-Trier backcourt on opening night in San Antonio.
Trier’s uncaring defense was an issue. The Knicks faced a shooting-guard glut — and Trier is undersized at that position. At some point, GM Scott Perry didn’t regard Trier as part of the future. It’s a stunning fall from grace, considering brass was thrilled last season about Trier’s rise from an undrafted rookie on a two-way contract to a two-year, $6.8 million deal.
Is Kevin Knox struggling because he was simply too young to be taken where he was in the draft or is he just not that good? At the very least, he looks too passive on the court to ever be an NBA star, and that is not an age thing. I’m reluctant to say this, but can the Knicks finally label him a bust and just move on? — Bobby B
No, I think there’s still something there – and it’s not because of Kentucky coach John Calipari’s rant this week. Knox seems to have a confidence issue more than anything after showing scoring electricity as a rookie. The signing of Marcus Morris may have backfired for the Knicks in the long run. It slammed Knox back to the bench – and he couldn’t find his mojo.
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Here’s a stat for you: Nearing the end of his sophomore campaign, Knox still is the 23rd-youngest player in the NBA. Knox has potential to be a solid 3-point shooter and slasher once he gets older, stronger and regains that bravado. He’ll never be a lockdown defender: He doesn’t have strong defensive instincts and his motor is an issue. But Knicks coaches thought he showed improvement on that end, and he started to block shots. He’s also close with Mitchell Robinson. The potential loss of the last 16 games hurts Knox more than any other Knick.
What is the likelihood of Mike Miller retaining his head coaching position, and if he is replaced, what are the chances of him retaining an assistant coaching position with the team? — Michael
Will Leon Rose give Mark Jackson a chance? — Walter Blackman
If Steve Mills were still team president, there was a chance of Miller being retained for another season. He impressed with his game plans and by giving clear structure to the defense. It’s what the Knicks needed at the time after Fizdale’s changing whims.
But new president Leon Rose will want to make a splash and hire a marquee guy with a higher profile. Tom Thibodeau, Jeff Van Gundy, Mark Jackson, Kenny Atkinson and Jason Kidd are all viable candidates if Calipari doesn’t want it. Keeping Miller is a definite possibility to either coach the G-League team again or stay on staff. Miller was 17-27 (.386), but the team improved under him.
Which free agents will the Knicks try to sign? — Scott McGrew
With the reduction in revenue due to the suspension of the NBA season, the Knicks’ extensive cap space could shrink. But Free Agency 2020 is not the time to throw money at a max player. Anthony Davis undoubtedly will re-sign with the Lakers. The hope is he signs a 1-and-1 deal and is on the market again in 2021. Gritty Raptors point guard Fred VanVleet and even Goran Dragic are interesting free-agent candidates, but not if the Knicks draft a point guard.
Rose, with all of his client connections, has been brought in to eventually add a superstar, and he’s thought of using cap space in a trade for a top-line player. Aging but still productive point guard Chris Paul, his favorite former client, has been on his radar. However, that move would kill their 2021 free agency, and there’s still a goal of keeping flexible for next year’s mightier class, led by the Greek Freak, Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The Knicks’ signings also depend on whom they retain up front. Starting center Taj Gibson could return. Bobby Portis likely won’t. The Knicks need more outside shooting from the backcourt, and the Kings’ Bogdan Bogdanovic and the Nets’ Joe Harris are out there.